Face mask



N. E. GADDlNl May 16, 1950 FACE MASK F iled Oct. 27, 1947 from Filter &Blower anii R O T N E v m ATTORNEYS Patented May 16, 1950 issues UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE FACE MASK Norman E. Gaddini, Winters, Calif.

Application October 2'7, 1947, Serial No. 782,271

Claims.

This invention is directed to, and has as an object to provide, an airconditioned face mask intended primarily for use by operators of outdooror agricultural implements, such as tractors or harvesters, or by spraypainters, etc.

Another object of the invention is to provide a face mask, as above,which is designed to prevent access of a foreign substance, such as dustor paint spray, to a persons face, this being accomplished by theapplication, in novel manner, of an air stream between the persons faceand a transparent shield adjacent but ahead thereof.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel airconditioning unit in connection with the face mask, such unit beingoperative to cool the air before the same flows over the face of theperson wearing the mask. The mask is therefore usable under hot climaticconditions.

A further object is to provide a face mask, of the type described, whichincludes a special adaptation of the shield for use when the foreignsubstance is a kind, such as paint spray, which tends to fog the shield.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple, practical, andconvenient face mask, and yet one which will be exceedingly effectivefor the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relativearrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the followingspecification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the face mask as in use.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the mask.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of a modified type of water tank,detached.

Fig. 4. is a perspective view of a modified form of face shield,detached.

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of the shield shown in Fig. 4.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on thedrawings, and particularly at present to Figs. 1 and 2, the face maskcomprises a head band or cap 1 adapted to snugly engage about the head 2of a person, whose face is indicated at 3.

At the front the head band I is fixed with a rigid, forwardly projectingvisor 4 which includes an upstanding, central attachment flange 5 at itsrear end. The purpose of this attachment flange will be describedhereinafter.

A transparent shield 6 depends from the rigid visor 4, such shield beingcurved to fit about a .2 persons face 3 from side to side thereof and insubstantial clearance relation. Additionally, the transparent shield 6is of sufficient length to extend downward from the rigid visor 4 to apoint at least below the chin of the wearer.

The transparent shield 6 may be of shatterproof glass or of atransparent plastic, said shield being detachably connected to the underside of the rigid visor t by friction clamps 1.

At its rear side edges, and for substantially the full height thereof,the transparent shield 5 is fitted with resilient sealing or closurestrips 6a, which bear against the adjacent sides of the wearers face 3.

A semi-circular screen duct 8, matching the curvature of the transparentshield 6, is mounted within the latter at the top thereof; i. e.immediately below and suspended from the rigid visor 4. This screen duct8 clears the forehead of the wearer, and within such duct it is fittedwith a lower layer of wood shavings or excelsior 9, topped by a wickill. The lower layer of excelsior or wood shavings permits of free airflow therethrough for the purpose which will be later described. Air isfed into said screen duct 8, for flow therethrough and downwarddischarge in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2, from alight-weight flexible hose 1 I connected to one end of said screen duct8 by a fitting I2.

From the fitting H the hose ll extends rearwardly about the neck of thewearer and thence passes downwardly on his opposite side. A clip l3secures the hose I I to the garment of the mask wearer, so that thelight weight of the hose does not bear on the mask, and permits of itsready movement with the wearers head.

At the end opposite the fitting I2, the hose H includes one part l of aquick-detachable coupling, whose other part is on a hose or conduit (notshown) leading from an air filter and blower unit, which may be of anysuitable type, and conveniently driven. For example, on a tractor thisunit could be a pulley driven mechanism driven from the fan or generatorbelt.

Above the rigid visor 4, the mask includes a small water tank unit,indicated generally at l5, which has a tank It mounted in connectionwith the upstanding attachment flange 5 by means of a hook I! on thetank engaging through vertically spaced eyes 18 on said flange. At thetop the tank i5 is fitted with an air vent type filler cap l9, while atits lower end said tank includes a neck 20 projecting through the visor4 into the screen duct 8 centrally of its ends. An extension of the wickit leads upwardly through the neck 20 into the tank It. When a quantityof water 2| is placed in the tank I6, it will bleed slowly through thewick I into the lower layer 9 of excelsior or wood shavings in saidscreen duct 0. It will thus be seen that with such lower layer 0 ofloose material constantly maintained in a wet or damp condition, therewill be substantial heat exchange as air from the hose H delivers intoand passes through the screen duct 8, consequently cooling such air.

From the screen duct 8, the cooled air in substantial volume deliversdownwardly between the wearers face 3 and the transverse shield 6,passing out of the lower end of such shield. As this air flow is insubstantial volume, foreign substance cannot gain access from the lowerend of the shield to the wearers face, and the wearers face is protectedeffectively.

In other words, there is a comparatively low pressure but high volumesupply of filtered and cooled air flow over the face, with unrestrictedrelease of said air into the atmosphere at the lower end of the shield,to thereby prevent foreign substances, such as dust, gases, or fumes,from reaching the-eyes, nose, and throat.

This passage of cooled air over the face of the mask wearer additionallyprevents perspiration of the face and adds materially to the comfort ofthe mask wearer.

Although especially applicable to use by operators of agriculturalimplements, such as tractors or harvesters, the mask is equally usefulin industrial work where dust fumes, gases, heat, or paint spray arehazardous and uncomfortable in the absence of protective means beingemployed.

The face mask is economical in construction, compact, and light weight;the design being such that it does not restrict the wearer in any way,either as to vision or movement, and-as explainedprovides maximum safetyand convenience.

In Fig. 3 there is illustrated a modified type of water tank unit. Thistank unit, which is adapted to be mounted in the same manner as the unit15, comprises a tank'22 having a filler cap 23 and a. discharge neck 24adapted to project through the rigid visor 4 into the screen duct 9. Avalve rod or stem 25-leads upwardly through the discharge neck 2 inclearance relation, and isthrea-ded, at its upper end, as at 26, througha nut 21 on the top of the tank. At its lower end and below the neck 24,but in cooperative relation to the latter, the valve rod 25 carries'avalve head 29. It will be seen that upon rotation of the valve rod 25,with resultant axial shifting thereof by reason of the threads 25, thevalve head. 29 will open or close to regulate the quantity or volume ofwater delivered from the tank to the screen duct 8. Such rotation of thevalve rod 25 is accomplished by means of a lever 30 on the upper end ofsaid rod. By adjusting the lever 32!, the wearer of the mask cancontrol, to an effective extent, water flow from the tank 22 into thescreen duct 8, as external conditions may require.

In Figs. 4 and 5, there is illustrated a modified type of shield for themask, designed for use under those conditions where external foreignsubstances, such as paint spray, tend to fog said shield. Here, theshield 3| is formed with eye openings 32, the air flow escaping in partoutwardly through said openings, as illustrated by the arrows in Fig. 5.Thus, the wearer has clear vision through the openings 32, but noforeign substance can pass inwardly through said openings by reason ofthe outflowing air. The openings 32 are struck out at the top, as at 33,and struck in at the bottom, as at 34, to assure against eddy currentswhich might otherwise draw foreign substance into the mask. Undercertain working conditions it may be desirable to form the shield withthe separate eye openings illustrated at 32.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there hasbeen produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of theinvention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferredconstruction of the device, still in practice such deviations from suchdetail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit ofthe invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new anduseful, and upon which Letters Patentare desired:

1. In a face mask which includes ahead gear and a curved frontal shieldsupported by the head gear: air distributing and conditioning meanscomprising a semi-circular screen duct mounted within the shieldadjacent the upper edge thereof and substantially conforming to thecurvature of the shield, the duct projecting inwardly of the shield toform a space between the shield and the face of the wearer of the mask,and means to admit air under pressure to the duct.

2. A device as in claim 1 including a mass of air pervious materialfilled into the duct.

3. A device as in claim 2 including a water reservoir mounted on thehead gear, and a conduit opening communication between the reservoir andduct.

4. A device as in claim 3 including a valve in the conduit, and meansoutside of the reservoir for controlling the open and closed position ofthe valve.

5. A device as in claim 3 including a wick in the duct such wick havingan extension projecting through the conduit into the reservoir.

NORMAN E. GADDINI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 804,272 Schwarz Nov. 14, 1905807,666 Drager Dec. 19, 1905 1,646,103 Patrick Oct. 18, 1927 2,259,680Caudell Oct. 21. 194.1 2,362,240 Bonilla Nov. '7, 1944 2,377,122 BakkaMay 29, 1945 2,402,820 Kitchen June 25, 1946 2,447,433 Schroeder Aug.17, 1948

